Sometimes it can seem like the stuff that is good for you is the opposite of what feels good: choosing carrot sticks over cupcakes or climbing on the treadmill instead of binge-watching Netflix on the couch. But that kind of tradeoff is not the case when it comes to sex. Decades of scientific research have illuminated bonafied connections between getting off and getting well. Sexual pleasure is like a supervitamin for mind and body.

A number of studies show that satisfaction in bed correlates with overall longevity. One 25-year study tracked frequency and enjoyment of sexual intercourse in relation to longevity. For women, more frequent sex didn't necessarily mean living longer, but women who reported past enjoyment of sexual activity lived longer.

Orgasms cause a surge in oxytocin (the body's natural "cuddle chemical") which may act as a sedative and lead to better sleep. One study of over 1,866 US women found that 32% of the women who reported masturbating in the previous three months did so to help go to sleep.

4. Hurt less

Studies show that sexual stimulation increases a woman's pain threshold. Researchers Whipple and Komisaurak hypothesized in a recent Atlantic article that the pain reduction of vaginal stimulation may be designed to relieve pain during childbirth. Masturbation can even relieve migraine headaches. Multiple studies confirm that while masturbation is less effective than some other treatments, it is more rapid. In a 2000 study, 9% of women who masturbated did so to relieve menstrual cramps.

5. Stay calm

Orgasm relieves tension and lowers anxiety by releasing oxytocin–the body's own sedative. A survey of 2,632 U.S. women found that 39% who masturbated did so to relax.